Saints teenager Collins signs new deal at Franklin’s Gardens

Utility back Tom Collins is one of a group of youngsters to sign new deals to stay at Northampton Saints.

Collins is just 19, but has made a big impact on the Saints’ first team this season, playing in some notable victories including the Heineken Cup victory over Leinster in Dublin, and the LV= Cup semi-final success against Saracens.

Other squad members that have played first team rugby this season and agreed to extend their Franklin’s Gardens careers are are fly-half Will Hooley, scrum-half Alex Day, prop Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, locks Alex Woolford and Jordan Onojaife and hookers Matt Williams and Reece Marshall.

Fly-half Sam Olver and back Howard Packman have also signed new contracts, along with winger Josh Skelcey.

Saints have also announced that five youngsters have signed their first professional contracts to step up into the Saints Senior Academy, and they are James Fish (hooker), Rory Hutchinson (centre), Lewis Ludlam (back row), Harry Mallinder (centre) and Josh Peters (lock.

All five made significant contributions to the Saints Under-18s’ Premiership Rugby Academies League campaign, and they have all played Under-18 rugby for their countries, Hutchinson with Scotland and the other four with England.